Freepages, the publisher of free telephone and internet-based business directories under the Scoot brand name, reported revenues of 8.5 million pounds ($14.3m) for the six months through March 31, up 43% from the same period last year. Pre-tax losses fell from 13.9 million pounds to 5.9 million pounds for the period. Oxford-based Freepages is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and on the Nasdaq. The gross value of new classified advertising contracts rose 68% to 12.3 million pounds ($20m), and there was also a sharp growth in consumer usage, with internet readouts up 387% and telephonic readouts up 171%. During the first half, Freepages completed investments in its UK infrastructure, recruited 103 additional classified sales staff and 148 call center operators, taking the number of full time and equivalent employees to 845 by the end of March. Freepages continued to make losses in its developing businesses in the Netherlands and Belgium, including its joint ventures with VNU. As part of its drive to develop electronic commerce services, Freepages has teamed up with US direct marketing company Cendant. It is offering its users targeted products from Cendant’s home shopping catalog. Once users sign up to the scheme, Freepages collects a percentage of the annual membership fee.
